FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith said there’s no way he could’ve predicted the 2011 season.

He had high expectations, of course. The junior college transfer wanted to contribute to a defense that returned plenty of veterans when he arrived on campus. But when Highsmith was told he was lining up with the first-team defense for his first practice, he was floored.

“That was a surprise to me,” Highsmith admitted. “A big surprise. But once I got there, my goal was to stay there.”

Highsmith accomplished it in starting every game for BCS No. 6 Arkansas (10-2), which returned to practice Tuesday in preparation to play No. 8 Kansas State (10-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6. The junior enters the bowl game ranked first on the team in tackles for losses (10.5), second in sacks (3.5) and third in tackles (73). He also has one of Arkansas’ two defensive touchdowns, scooping up a fumble and rumbling 47 yards for a score at LSU.

Highsmith grew comfortable in his starting role, providing Arkansas with some much-needed consistency alongside veteran linebacker Jerry Franklin. His performance left Arkansas’ coach Bobby Petrino impressed with how well he adapted to Southeastern Conference football.

“He came in and picked up the system so fast, was very, very productive so fast,” Petrino said of Highsmith, who was one of five JUCO transfers to join the team in 2011. “He had very few mistakes, and if he did have mistakes he had the speed and the ability to make up for them. ... I’m not sure you could ask anything more from a junior college player that was not in spring ball, came in the summer and started every game for us. He’s done a great job.”

Highsmith admits it has been a whirlwind season, beginning with that first practice.

He came to Arkansas early last summer after spending two seasons at Phoenix (Ariz.) College. It took a little while to get his bearings, but Highsmith began to feel like he belonged with the starting unit when the Razorbacks were wrapping up preseason camp.

“We’re up there in the (rankings),” Highsmith said of the Razorbacks’ national standing. “If I could play with us, I’m pretty sure I could play with anybody else. So toward the end of camp I started feeling like I belonged.”

He recorded two tackles for losses in his first game against Missouri State. Highsmith later logged a career-high 12 tackles in the Auburn win. And he scored the touchdown against LSU, admitting afterward he thought it was too good to be true after reaching the endzone.

It wasn’t a perfect season. Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson said Highsmith has plenty of room for improvement with his fundamentals and techniques. But he said Highsmith, whose father (Alonzo Highsmith) was a star running back with the Miami Hurricanes, is driven to excel.

“He’s hungry,” Johnson said. “His dad was a great player and I think he has a great example to follow. He wants to be that guy. He wants to be the guy that leads the team in tackles.”

Highsmith is too far behind Franklin (93 tackles) and safety Tramain Thomas (87) to accomplish it this season. Butvcv he’ll have an opportunity next fall, when veterans like Franklin, Thomas and Jerico Nelson are gone.

The Razorbacks will be counting on Highsmith to serve as a cornerstone for the defense under coordinator Paul Haynes. The new coach has gotten a good look at Highsmith during bowl practices and, while he must improve, Haynes sees someone who “can make plays for us.”

“I hope so,” Petrino added earlier this month. “We’re going to need him to be that guy.”

Highsmith didn’t want to look too far ahead, though, saying his first goal is ending 2011 with a strong effort in the Cotton Bowl.

But Highsmith did offer a quick assessment of the season, saying he was proud of his accomplishments in his first year with Arkansas. And he’s expecting even more in 2012.

“Next season is awhile away, but I’m looking forward to it,” Highsmith said. I’ll be more experienced. I’ll be ready. I think I could maybe reach my full potential in the spring and then come into the season full speed.”

JUCO Impact

Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who started every game this season, was one of five junior college transfers in Arkansas’ 2011 class. Here’s a quick rundown on how the rest of them fared during their first seasons with the Hogs:

• LB Robert Atiga (Sophomore) — Played in wins against New Mexico and Tennessee. Did not record any statistics.

• LB Alonzo Highsmith (Junior) — Leads team in tackles for losses (10.5). Ranks second in sacks (3.5) and third in tackles (73).

• FB Kiero Small (Junior) — Strong blocker played in 12 games with two starts. He caught one pass, had one carry, scored one touchdown.

• OT Chris Stringer (Sophomore) — Played in a reserve role during wins against Missouri State, New Mexico and Troy.

• DT Robert Thomas (Sophomore) — Played in 11 games with 5 starts. Finished with 22 tackles, 2.5 for losses and one sack (vs. Vanderbilt)

Cotton Bowl history

Editor’s note: Arkansas will play in the Cotton Bowl for the 12th time when it meets Kansas State on Jan. 6 on Cowboys Stadium. The bowl game has been an important part of Arkansas’ football history and, to mark this year’s trip, the Arkansas News Bureau will take a brief look back at the other 11 appearances over the next 11 days leading up to kickoff.

1955 — Georgia Tech 14, Arkansas 6

Arkansas coach Bowden Wyatt and his “25 Little Pigs” turned in one of the most memorable seasons in school history in 1954, earning the first win against Texas in 17 years and following it with an upset against Ole Miss (thanks to Bob Benson’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Preston Carpenter). The success led the Razorbacks to the 1955 Cotton Bowl, where they played a Georgia Tech team whose coaching staff included an assistant named Frank Broyles.

The Razorbacks took an early 6-0 lead in Dallas, scoring on quarterback George Walker’s one-yard touchdown run. But it was the only touchdown Arkansas could muster against the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech got 293 rushing yards, including 99 from the most valuable player George Humphrey. Paul Rotenberry and Wade Mitchell scored second-half touchdowns to beat the Razorbacks 14-6.

The loss was Arkansas’ first in a bowl game. It also was the last game for Wyatt, who left Arkansas to coach Tennessee, his alma mater, after the Cotton Bowl and was replaced by Jack Mitchell.

Arkansas got revenge, of sorts, against Georgia Tech and coach Bobby Dodd five years later. Broyles — in his second season at Arkansas — led the Razorbacks to a 14-7 win against his former coach and alma mater in the 1960 Gator Bowl.